MTEA Stands in Solidarity with the Teachers and Students of Oaxaca

MILWAUKEE – June 24, 2016 – Today the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) declares our solidarity and support for the striking teachers affiliated with the teachers’ union, the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) in Mexico. CNTE teachers have been on strike since early spring as they pushback against the Mexican government’s so called education “reforms.” We support the striking teachers across the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Jalisco and Hildalgo in their fight against

The corporate control of education

The elimination of teacher training schools

The outright firing of over 3000 teachers

The arrests and criminalization of teacher union activists

The brutal attacks on protesters that have left 8 dead

The elimination of culturally relevant indigenous curriculum

These actions by the Mexican government are a violation of the fundamental human rights of workers and of the rights of students. We support the CNTE’s resistance to privatization and their fight for a democratic education, for respect for their profession, and support for education based in local communities that is respectful of indigenous languages and cultures. MTEA stands with our Mexican counterparts, who must sacrifice so much and take such serious personal risks in their work.

“Teachers everywhere should be able to speak up for the rights of their students and communities without fear of repression,” MTEA President Kim Schroeder said. “As educators resisting destructive “reforms” on public education in Wisconsin, we stand in solidarity with our Mexican brothers and sisters.”

We are witnessing international resistance against attacks on public education and attempts by states to strip away rights. MTEA stands with the thousands of teachers in Mexico in their fight for a democratic, public education system with community control that respects the cultures of the students.

For over 50 years, the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association has been a champion for public education in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association represents over 4,500 educators and support personnel who make Milwaukee’s public education system possible. MTEA is an affiliate of the National Education Association and is the largest educator local in Wisconsin. Learn more at mtea.weac.org.

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